Amarnath Vidyalankar (English: Amarnath Vidyalankar, 8 December 1901, Shahpur district; 21 September 1985, Delhi) was an Indian freedom fighter, journalist, social worker and parliamentarian. He was one of the fighters who participated in the freedom struggle of India. Amarnath Vidyalankar was a member of the Indian National Congress. After independence, from 1957 to 1962, he was the Minister of Education, Labor and Language in the Punjab Government. He was also a Member of Parliament of the First Lok Sabha (1952-56), Third Lok Sabha (1962-67) and Fifth Lok Sabha (1971-77).
Amarnath Vidyalankar was born on 8 December 1901 in a Khatri family in Sargodha district of undivided Punjab (now Pakistan). He was influenced by the thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi and Lala Lajpat Rai during his student life. As soon as he left Gurukul, he became a member of Lala ji’s organization ‘Lok Seva Samaj’ with the aim of serving the country and society. He also worked as Lala ji’s secretary.
After the death of Lala Lajpat Rai, when Purushottam Das Tandon became the president of ‘Lok Sevak Samaj’, Amarnath Vidyalankar was entrusted with the job of editor of a newspaper named ‘Punjab Kesari’. Meanwhile, he also continued to serve the famine victims and organize workers. Along with some colleagues, he opened Kisan Vidyalayas in the villages of Punjab.
He went to jail during the ‘Kisan Andolan’ in 1941 and the ‘Quit India Andolan’ in 1942. At the time of partition of the country, he helped the refugees who came from Pakistan.
Amarnath Vidyalankar was elected a member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly in 1949 and a member of the Lok Sabha in 1952 and 1962. He was also a minister in Pratap Singh Kairon’s cabinet. He led India’s delegations in many labour conferences.
